[Responsible Dog Owners]

Hi All Dog Owners and Noon-Dog Owners Alike,

John Rohan, Assistant District Manager, has provided the following update on the dog park: The AAC directed Staff and AAC member John Wilcox to form a focus group to look at dog park programming on a global level for the community. The Focus Group is scheduled to commence on April 16th, 2009 at 2:00pm at the Savannah Center.

Whether your are in favor, or not, if you have an opinion, your presence is appreciated.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Responsible Dog Owners

Hi All Dog Owners and Noon-Dog Owners Alike,

John Rohan, Assistant District Manager, has provided the following update on the dog park: The AAC directed Staff and AAC member John Wilcox to form a focus group to look at dog park programming on a global level for the community. The Focus Group is scheduled to commence on April 16th, 2009 at 2:00pm at the Savannah Center.

Whether your are in favor, or not, if you have an opinion, your presence is appreciated.

Excellent. I'm glad to hear that there will finally be some focus on the much-needed topic of Dog Parks in The Villages.

[katezbox]

Hi RDOG,

Would you give us an update on yesterday's meeting. I am not in TV until the end of the month, but am interested in the type of input you received.

Thank you,

Kate (and Finley who wants a dog park near his new home)

[Responsible Dog Owners]

Hi Kate,

Thank you for your interest. At this point, a group of 12 residents (from yesterday's group of 35) with a range of opinions from non-dog owners, RDOG and DDR representatives, and residents from south of 466 will be meeting, 4/20. I will be updating this thread following that meeting. Please be patient, you will be kept well informed.

Thank you all for your support.

Karen

[katezbox]

Hi Karen,

Thank you. I'm sorry that I could not be there to participate.

Kate

[ptsnyd]

Hi Karen
We have 1 car and my husband works so can't make it to all meetings
but really would love to have a dog park near 466A
have 2 dogs would be able to take them in golf cart.

[nONIE]

Guess Ill throw in my 2 cents for what its worth.

The new dog park next to the archery range on the historic side of The Villages was an excellent idea and very badly needed. However, grass was never planted in the park and consequently every time I take my dogs there they come home really grungy dirty and so do I. In fact I got so disgusted with the dirt that I take my dogs in the car to Doggie Do Run on 101 off of 466. It is much cleaner and much larger. Just a small recommendation for future doggie parks. I have heard many people complaining about this, so its not just me being a grump.

Unfortunately I am not in The Villages now or I would be happy to attend the meetings.

[Barefoot]

There is another thread where you can vote on the dog park issue. I hope that all dog people go there and vote.

[Karissimo]

Why must THIS particular dog park close during the mid-day hours? And although the sign says it's closed from 11a - 2p, many times staff at Seabreeze Rec Cntr who are assigned to open it, forget to do so. I've been told (by various "Community Watch" people who were closing it prior to the Seabreeze Rec Cntr staff doing so), the purpose is:
1) to preserve the grass
2) to clean the park
3) to protect people from being there during mid-day hours when it's too hot out.

All these reasons seem pretty bogus to me. Seems strange this is the only park that needs the grass preserved, cleaning, or someone to regulate (for adults, no less), when the whether is too hot.

It's ironic that when we're locked out at 11a and a handful of us leave and go to one of the other dog parks in The Villages.

Do you know WHO EXACTLY, I CAN CONTACT ABOUT NOT LOCKING US OUT? When I've asked folks from Seabreeze Rec Cntr (or, the folks in the "Community Watch" vehicles who used to come) who close the park at 11, I've been told various things including, but not limited to:
1) the fire dept
2) Seabreeze Rec Center
3) the owner of the property that is behind the dog park
4) the Morse family
All of which are wrong.

HOW CAN THIS BE RESOLVED??

[Karissimo]

Sadly, the dog park in the historic section near the archery range is useless. I've heard this sentiment from many dog owners. For us, everytime we (used to) go there, we'd have to:
1) remember to wear old shoes, as it's difficult to impossible to get the graphite-like sand off them;
2) CARRY the dog into the bathroom to be bathed as soon as we get home, as the graphite-like sand CAN'T be vacuumed out to the carpet. The only way to get it out is to hire a professional carpet cleaning service.
Does anyone know a way we can get this resolved?

[Barefoot]

The Villages Administration Office at 352-751-3939 says that Dog Parks are the responsibility of the Recreation Department at 352-674-1800.

The Villages allows two domestic animals per home, and yet hasn't provided adequate dog parks.

I would investigate this myself except I have to take my two dogs to Doggie Doo Run Run, a private dog park 3 minutes from The Villages, which is huge, and has grass! Only $25.00 per month, it's a bargain. I think it is at least ten fenced acres with large trees for shade. Oh, and it's a great chance to meet other wonderful dog owners.

[pjmcd]

Originally Posted by ptsnyd

Hi Karen
We have 1 car and my husband works so can't make it to all meetings
but really would love to have a dog park near 466A
have 2 dogs would be able to take them in golf cart.

We second this! There are so many new homes being built south of 466A and so many more planned. It would be great if TV would set aside a small parcel for all the dogs that will certainly be coming to TV as well. When the Sanibel Pool opened we asked the Rec Department representatives about any plans to open a dog park and they said, "not at this time!" This group is a good start to a real problem. Thanks

[plimit56]

Is there a website for RDOG so we all know what is going on and when the meetings are???

[lovsthosebigdogs]

I would love to see a really nice, large dog park built that would rival DDR. There are so many dogs and their owners in TV I am sure they would appreciate it.
What is the name of the dusty dirty dog park? My dogs are long haired, large and light colored so there is a potential for a whole lotta mess I don't need if I use that park. I am just asking so I can avoid it when I check out the parks (I have a list and directions to all of them).
I am not in the villages now either but I plan on becoming very active when I am.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by lovsthosebigdogs

I would love to see a really nice, large dog park built that would rival DDR. There are so many dogs and their owners in TV I am sure they would appreciate it.
What is the name of the dusty dirty dog park? My dogs are long haired, large and light colored so there is a potential for a whole lotta mess I don't need if I use that park. I am just asking so I can avoid it when I check out the parks (I have a list and directions to all of them).
I am not in the villages now either but I plan on becoming very active when I am.

The Paradise Dog Park as far as I know still has very little grass. I have not been there for a few months but assume that it's still rather dusty. Not enough sunlight gets through the trees so that the dog urine can evaporate.

The grounds around Paradise Lake are though a fun place to walk your dog. There often seems to be more dogs and their owners near that lake than actually in the dog park.